Human Resources - People Business Partner

People Business Partner

Portland, Oregon Area

JCK Restaurants is a Multi-Unit Multi-Brand Operator (MUMBO) of Quick Serve restaurants in Oregon and Washington. TeamJCK.com

If going above and beyond to serve our guests, our team, and our community across our brands sounds like a purpose you can support - please read on.

Currently we are seeking an experienced People Business Partner to represent the HR function and support restaurant operations throughout the Portland/SW Washington market. This role serves as a strategic partner to operational leadership across a fast-paced, multi-unit restaurant environment. Applicants will answer our 2-question survey and upload their resume here: https://go.cultureindex.com/p/Egagvf4gtjq1PfKORcj

The ideal HR professional brings prior restaurant experience, preferably within Quick Service Restaurant (QSR) operations, and understands the realities of supporting high-volume teams, frontline leaders, and operational performance through effective people practices.

This is not a traditional HR role focused only on compliance or administration. This role is part of the People Operations team and serves as the primary HR business partner to operational leadership within the assigned market. This position is designed to serve as a true operational partner to field leadership, helping leaders solve problems, improve retention, strengthen accountability, and create great employee experiences across our restaurants.

The department will eventually have a team of three Business Partners. However, the first hire will play an important part in helping shape and build the People Business Partner model for the organization. During the first several months, this role will partner closely with the People Ops department head to develop systems, tools, workflows, reporting, communication rhythms, and operational support strategies that will help the function scale successfully across the Enterprise.

What You'll Do

• Partner directly with People Ops Director, Director of Operations, District Managers, and restaurant leaders to support business performance through people strategy
• Provide HR guidance and support to operational leaders
• Partner with leaders on employee relations, compliance, and workforce strategy
• Support consistent application of HR policies and employment practice
• Coach leaders on employee relations, accountability, documentation, performance management, and difficult conversations
• Conduct or support employee investigations and provide practical, legally compliant guidance
• Analyze turnover, retention, engagement, staffing, and workforce trends to help leaders make informed decisions
• Support onboarding, leadership development, succession planning, and employee retention initiatives
• Help implement and operationalize new People Ops systems, processes, and enterprise initiatives
• Build trust and credibility with field leadership through responsiveness, empathy, and practical problem-solving
• Support organizational change management and operational alignment across multiple restaurant locations

What Makes Someone Successful in This Role

The ideal candidate is highly relational, approachable, emotionally intelligent, and confident coaching operational leaders in fast-paced environments. They know how to balance empathy with accountability and can influence others without creating unnecessary friction. They are also comfortable working with people metrics and operational data, with the ability to build, interpret, and communicate datasets, trends, and workforce insights in a way that helps leaders make informed business decisions.

This role requires someone who can build credibility quickly with restaurant leadership teams and who understands the pace, challenges, and culture of restaurant operations.

This person enjoys building relationships, solving people-problems, creating structures where needed, and helping leaders grow. They are energized by working directly with people and are comfortable navigating change, coaching conversations, and operational complexity.

Qualifications

• 6+ years of progressive HR experience, preferably supporting multi-unit operations
• Experience conducting employee relations investigations and advising leaders
• Strong understanding of employment law and HR compliance
• Ability to coach and influence operational leaders at multiple levels
• Strong organizational and communication skills
• Experience using HRIS systems and workforce data to drive decisions
• QSR, restaurant, retail, hospitality, or other high-volume operational experience strongly preferred
• SHRM or HRCI certification required
• Ability to travel regularly throughout the Portland market and surrounding areas

Why JCK Restaurants

We are truly, a people-first, values-driven organization focused on building high-performing teams through:

• Leadership
• Service
• Teamwork
• Fun
• Kindness

Our People Operations team works closely with Operations leadership to create practical, scalable solutions that support both employees and business performance. We believe HR should be operationally credible, collaborative, and deeply connected to the employee experience.

This is an opportunity to help build something meaningful from the ground up while making a direct impact on leaders, teams, and organizational culture.

Location & Travel

This role will primarily support the Portland and SW Washington area, with regular travel to restaurant locations and operational meetings throughout the region.